DisneyDining Disney Dining Plan and Reviews
Some people can’t imagine having Thanksgiving dinner anywhere but right in their own home, and that’s totally reasonable. On a holiday for being grateful and spending time with those you love, it makes sense that you would want to do it in your safest place. For others, the holidays are the perfect time to get away with friends and family and have an adventure you’ll always remember. Is there anywhere better to do this than Walt Disney World? We certainly don’t think so (unless perhaps your Park days end with a cruise!). While Disney doesn’t do too much big or fancy to celebrate Thanksgiving, there are some Disney touches here and there that will make your day super special.
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No Stress
The holidays are wonderful, magical times. These are the seasons that kids dream about and adults revel in cherished memories. But let’s get super honest for a second: the holidays can get incredibly stressful sometimes. It’s just the nature of it. Sometimes family dynamics are really hard or awkward. Or maybe it’s just the turkey shortage is stressing you out. Grocery shopping for a Thanksgiving meal can be a LOT and don’t even get us started on cooking the whole thing. If you have a tiny kitchen, you know the stresses of trying to cook with not enough room.
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Another major stress for any holiday, not just Thanksgiving, is unmet expectations. Expectations can make or break a situation. Maybe you woke up on Thanksgiving morning with a very clear idea of what you wanted this day to be. But several mishaps later, the day is far from it.
One of the incredible perks of spending Thanksgiving day in Walt Disney World is that you get to check your stresses at the door. As soon as you step on that Monorail or swipe that MagicBand, your responsibilities are gone. Disney takes care of everything, which is such a magical, beautiful thing. You don’t have to worry about entertaining guests, because you are the guest! You don’t have to cook a feast because the feast has already been cooked for you! Disney allows us to say goodbye to stress and focus on what really matters.
Related: ‘A whole lot of cuteness above NYC’: Baby Yoda gets big, will soar over the city on Thanksgiving Day
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Focus on Family
When you boil it all down, holidays are meant to celebrate love and unity. Disney lets everyone do that in their Parks. When you don’t have to worry about all of the stresses that come along with Thanksgiving, you can focus on the important things, like the special people in your life. There are no responsibilities to hold you from just having fun! One of the most disappointing things about the holidays is when you find that you’ve been so busy trying to make everything perfect that you’ve forgotten to enjoy the moments as they happen. Whether you have PhotoPass or not, you’ll capture some amazing memories!
Related: What To Watch on Disney+ for Thanksgiving
Incredible Dining
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Did we mention that you don’t have to do any of the cooking? Bring it on! There are several routes you could go in terms of having Thanksgiving dinner at Walt Disney World. We all know that there are about a million fantastic dining options throughout the four Parks and resorts, so you could simple pick one and have a great meal and call it a day. Or you could do a little more digging and choose a restaurant that features a Thanksgiving Feast that night. Several restaurants on property will have this special meal for the night. It tends to change up every year, but a continued fan favorite is the dinner at the Whispering Canyon Cafe at Wilderness Lodge.
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We love this dining option! Whispering Canyon is a super fun place to eat on any old regular day, so you just know it’s going to be extra special on a holiday. Disney offers this incredible three-course meal for the whole family in the afternoon and evening of Thanksgiving Day. For a set price per person, you can enjoy a delicious (and fun) meal without having to cook a thing!
Related: Where You Can Enjoy a Thanksgiving Meal at Disneyland
Prepare for Christmas
And once you’ve gobbled down the last of your all-you-care-to-eat turkey from Whispering Canyon Cafe, you can get excited about the next holiday: Christmas! It’s not a secret that Disney goes all out for Christmas, even well before Thanksgiving, which makes it really easy to get in the holiday spirit very quickly! Even walking out of Whispering Canyon you can enjoy the giant Christmas tree in the lobby of Wilderness Lodge. Or take a peek back into the Parks and soak up the Christmas music, decorations, and festivities that Disney has planned for all of us.
Whether preparing for Christmas at Disney means shopping for Christmas gifts in the Emporium on Main Street or walking around the World Showcase to learn about different traditions around or the world or watching the Candlelight Processional at the America Gardens Theatre at the American Adventure Pavilion, Disney is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit.
Walt Disney World allows us to take a break from the stressors of life and enjoy precious moments with our loved ones over the holidays, and for that we are truly grateful. Happy Thanksgiving!
Have you ever celebrated Thanksgiving Day in the Parks? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!
